Washington, D.C. — This week Senator Ron Johnson (WI) worked with his colleagues to improve the comprehensive immigration bill being debated on the Senate floor because he understands the current situation is not good for anyone. America is a compassionate society, and no one wants to separate families by deporting moms and dads or husbands and wives. As a result, Senator Johnson supports immigration reform and a path to legal status for people whose only crime was to enter the country illegally when they came here to work. But he will not support a bill with inadequate border security that creates an illegal immigration dilemma for the next generation of Americans, or with loopholes that further strain the nation’s social safety net. Below are some of the ways he is trying to fix the bill so he can support its final passage:

Border Security:

Senator Johnson has introduced an amendment to ensure that the registration period for people who immigrated illegally is reduced to 12 months. The underlying bill allows for an application period of up to 30 months, which would delay our ability to understand who is in this country.  He has also cosponsored amendments to ensure the implementation of a biometric entry/exit system, to require congressional approval of border security strategies outlined by the Department of Homeland Security, to enforce immigration laws on federal lands, and to close loopholes that provide multiple appeals, class action lawsuits, and government-funded lawyers for illegal immigrants in immigration proceedings.  

Benefits:

Senator Johnson is the sponsor of an amendment that would prohibit workers who are granted registered provisional immigrant status from claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit.  The senator supports allowing those who came here illegally to come out of the shadows and register. But this registration grants legal status only so an immigrant can live, work and pay taxes in this country. It does not, and should not, guarantee access to any federal benefits.  This amendment addresses a loophole in the underlying bill that would allow those in registered status to receive the Earned Income Tax Credit.  According to the Congressional Budget Office, the immigration bill will increase federal spending by $262 billion over a 10-year period, with most of that going to refundable tax credits and health care programs.  The Johnson Amendment will lower the direct spending in the immigration bill.      

J-1 Visa: 

Senator Johnson has sponsored or cosponsored several amendments that would ensure the viability of the J-1 Visa Exchange Program.  This program for students is meant to increase the understanding between the people of the United States and of other countries by educational and cultural exchange.  The underlying bill strips the ability of sponsors to collect fees from participants and requires that sponsors pay an exorbitant fee to the government.  This is one of the few programs that has worked reasonably well, and the current legislation would destroy it.  Senator Johnson is working closely with colleagues to allow J-1 sponsors to remain in business — and maintain their current business models — while preventing bad actors from participating. These amendments include targeted reforms, such as fee transparency, increased disclosure to exchange visitors before their departure for the U.S., and compliance audits of exchange program sponsors.

Senator Johnson will work to secure votes on these important amendments, along with others, to create an overall bill that he can support and that will benefit the nation now and in the future.  He appreciates all the people who have traveled to his office in D.C. or to the Mobile Office Hours he held on the immigration bill and for sharing their heartfelt stories resulting from our broken immigration system.  

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